Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-10
GLADSTONE on RELIGION.

AaeH oo0 inc SkePehc01 Movements Oh
the Nay Leads Tells Experaemce
with RoaAa Catholics,
Addressing the students at the Nottingham
Congregational Institute, Mr.. Gladstone said:
'The controversy between belief and the skept-
cal movement Of the day, which has assumed In
our time such portentous Dimensions has It's effect
undoubtedly in tending to throw US back upon
those great Christian truths which we all alike
embrace, I believe, with our whole hearts and
minds. However little we may be able to adorn
the doctrine OF Christianity as we ought yet there
is q tendency to throw us back upon these things
and to make US appreciate more fully and warmly
than we have in other days that broad ground OF
concurrence which, after the vicissitudes Of 1900
the corruptions, errors and abuses, never
theless remains clear and solid and un-
shaken a e. to the the present day and Will
Therefore regard with sincere interest the founda!
ton OF an institution such as this and with warm
admiration the munincence OF those who bring
about such foundations, for feel that here Chris
tian zeal Is likely to be united with Christian
knowledge and Christian learning, and that the
IN 81 s00e ra% sS
present day is feature In which all will rejoice.
(Cheers.l 1t strengthens you against those who
unhappily cannot accept Christianity as you do,
and It tends to the union Of all the various bodies
OF the Christian Church can undoubtedly recOl-
lect now, looking back over a long life. great
Of which l may venture, without fear OF contra
diction, to say these two thinge, neither OF them
raised; and, secondly that it is far more pervaded
A REAL CHRISTIAN UNITY
in central and fundamental matters than was the
case nifty years ago. loud cheersI For though
there have been developments which may have
seemed to tend toward division both In the Church
OF England, and probably beyond its limits yet
upon the whole believe that a perfectly impair
tial observer, collecting the tone and religious
its pulpts, would say that he perceves both these
features that / have described as character
istic Of the age.nrst, that it has tended upward
In its quality and character; secondly, that 1t has
more and more exhibited that fundamental union
in the central ideas OF Christianity by which Chris
divisions stll renders an emphatic testimony In the
face OF tho world and OF human kind and OF human
HISTORIAN emphatic testimony to the authority
and to the.wOrk OF our blessed Saviour. [Cheersl ]
These are very happy circumstances; and will
now venture to say one w0rd-aS have been
feelings Of amoer
venture TO say before you, with sincere convic-
TONS that the pains and anxetes Of the political
mitigated by the conviction which we entertain-I
am quite sure that for my friends on this platform
and elsewhere may confidently say so-that our
work, II one Of strife for the moment is In its aim
and end one OF peace-[loud cheersl-and one
Which trust 1t Is not prOfane OF irreverent to say
the Prince Of Peace, IT may be hoped, win recog.
draw together the Kingdoms, the hearts Of which
are not now united as they SHOULD be. We are
SEEKING 10 PROMOTE HARMONY
among different classes and different nationali-
ties and different confessions and believe that
when the noise and din Of battle are over instead
OF those painful and grievous results OF victory
which made the Duke OF wellington declare that
there was nothing after defeat which was so sad
as we
hopes and brighter recollectiOns Will occupy
mems minds and that all these contentious In
which we are now engaged will be buried in blessed
oblivion. [Cheers.l Gentlemen, have in other
days known the comfort and advantage OF the en-
thusiastic, and l may say the unanimous sup
country. [Hear, hearl In the great causes
OF humanity and Justice (cheersl on the
present occasion, we have had their en-,
cannot quite say their unanimity [laughterl; but
have the satisfaction In observing In your pres
great eminence connected with more than one Of
the larger nOn-cOnfOrming bodies that although
some among them have been unable to follow us,
men, SO far as have observed and am able TO
speak, has been marked by moderation and tolera-
ton tCheers.l In no single case have they gone
were real and creating difflculties which were
fantastic. In no single case have they thought 1t
necessary to cast suspicion upon our FELLOWSHIP
Jects OF the
ROMAN CATHOLIC PERSUASION,
with respect to whom, / am proud to say, judging
both from their history In other times and from
their sentiments, that believe Protestant liber-
ties will be safe in their hands when they have
obtained their just and legitimate objects they
would in ours l must tell you sir, OF the pro-
found satisfaction which enjoyed at the particu-
lar moment OF visit lately paid to South Wales
In the neighbOrboOd OF the town OF Cardiff felt
that was among those who may possibly be
called the most Protestant people In the world
and II a distinction has to be drawn between one
Protestant people and another. There arrived at
that place and at that time a large number OF RO-
man Catholics constituting deputatiOn from the
city Of Cork, and they were received by the Prot
estantS OF South Wales not merely with Kindness
but with respect and with an enthusiasm, may
say, even equal to that which you your
selves have SHOWN within these walls to-day
GCheeral / think what q blessed change can
De found In the progress of time the ad-
vance OF civilization, ana in the advance OF sound
religious sympathy. 1t Is not yet 100 years ago
since, in the painful years which preceded the
union with Ireland, many local forces were sent
over from England and Wales to assist In what
was called maintaining the authority OF the law
but what at that time meant trampling under foot
all law all humanity, all justice and all decency.
bodies who at that time forgot themselves and In
ment OF North Welshmen, who passed under the
name OF "Ancient BrtOns." [Laughter.l How DIFF
ferent are the two pictures Which Of them is
the best? Which OF them Def1ts us most as loyal
citizens, as rational men, or as believing Chris